Adjustable support or stay applicable to drop-end couches



March 27, 1928.

R. RUSSELL ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT OR STAY APPLI GABLE TO DROP END coucmas Filed .Feb. 10, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 27, 1928. 1,663,864

R. RUSSELL ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT OR STAY APPLICABLE TO DROP END COUGHES Filed Fb. 10, 1927 2 SheetsSheet 2 Patented Mar. 27, 1928. Y

UNITED STA ROBERT RUSSELL, 0F BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO ALFRED HENRY REDFEBN, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND. I

ADJUSTABLE snrronr on STAY AEPLIOABLE ro DROP-END COUCHES.

Application filed.February 10, 1927, Serial No. 167,240, and in Great Britain February 11, 1926.

unit of the couch by hinges or their equiv alent. I a

According to the present invention I pro vide a drop-end couch, settee, or the like, wherein the supporting stay comprises an arm pivoted to one unit of thecouch and a plate pivoted to a hinge on the other unit of the couch, the plate being connected to the arm by a link which is foldable on'said plate and also having an edge provided with detents or teeth for engagement by a catch mounted for rocking on the hinge pin connecting the link to the arm.

Preferably the teeth or detents in the plate 'are disposed in a substantially arcuate relation about the pivot connecting the link to the plate, the distance of the teeth or cletents from the said pivot being substantially equal to the length of the link, and the length of the catch being relatively small.-

By this means an efiective stay is pro-. vided in which the catch does not move to i any substantial amount towards or away from the sides of thedrop-end frame or one unit of the couch as the two units are pivotally moved in relation one to the other, thus facilitating the connection of said catch with I an operating lever mounted on the side of.

drop-end frame and eliminating the necessity of providing a wide range ofmovement for the operating lever.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a perspectlve View showing one end of a couch framework with the supporting stay in the extended position.

Figure 2 is a front view thereof. I

Figure 3 is a section on line 3. Qf Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 2and showing the drop-end of the couch in the partially lowered position. 1

As illustrated a notched member 10 is made in the form-of a metal plate, and thelink 11 which is pivotally connected therewith is of double formation and comprised by a pair of metal strips 12 and 13 disposed one a on either side of the plate lO'and connected the plate and forming the pivotal connection. The other ends of the metal strips 12',

and 13 are connected by a second rivet 15 which forms a pivot on which a short catch 20 is mounted for rocking movement. The

notches 21 which are of ratchet-like formation are formed in one edge of the plate 10 arid are arranged substantially in the form of an are having its centre at the location of the rivet 14, the arrangement being such that the rivet 15 just clears'the notches 21;

The plate 10 is pivotally mounted between a pair of lugs or plates 25 by a bolt or rivet 26 which is disposed at a distance from the rivet 14which is approximately equal to the distance between the rivet 14.and the rivet 15. The lugs 25 may be associated with the fixed frame 27 :or one. unit of the couch, while the rivet 15 may be associated with the movable end 28 orother unit of the couch,"'the arrangement being such that as the couch end 28 is raised or lowered the rivet 15 will move to and fromthe rivet 26- of the, notched member. Thus, it willbe seen that the .plate 110 is of approximately equal'length tothe link 11, and that as these two members are folded or extended, the

catch 20 will move in relation to the-notched edge of the plate. 7 p r i The catch 20 serves to fix these two mem-.

bers. in the desired position andcomprises a pair of plates 30 which are located one against the external face of strips 12 and 13.

thesetwo plates 30 being connected and spaced apart by therivet 15 which forms the pivot of the catch and by a second rivet 31 Which is adapted for engaging the notches 21'. One of' the plates 30 is provided witha lug 32' for connection withan operating device, and this, plate is also provided with an extension 34 adapted for connection with one end of a spring 35 which tends to move the catch intosuch a position that it engages with one of the notches. One end or corner of the notched plate 10 is provided with a projection '36 which forms a stop and-will prevent the arm or link from being moved so that the catch is no longer over the series of notches.

The rivet or pivot 15 of the catch and'link is mounted inthe arm 42 which has its other end coiled round the pivot pinof the hinge 41. The hinge. 41 has alug 45 to which the fixed end of the spring 35 is connected.

It will be seen that the catch 20 has a universal mounting with respect to the dropend 28, by reason of the rivet 1'5 and hinge 41 being disposed in planes at right angles unit 27 of' the couch by a universal joint; This joint is formed partly by the rivet or pivot M and partly by mounting the lugs 25 on a hinge which is mounted on the frame 27 with its pivot pin disposed ina plane at right angles to the rivet 14.v This pair of" lugs 25 maybe formed from a single strip of metal which is bent around the pin of the hinge until its ends lie parallel one with the other.

It will be seen that, the mounting of the adjustable support with respect to the couch is such that the notched plate 10 lies transversely of the couch and more or less in the plane of the drop end 28' when said end is in its upright, position, and the points of connection. of the adjustable support with the drop end" and fixed frame are. centrally dis posed from back to front of the couch,

Secured on the forward upright member of the drop-end frame 28 is a control leverior handle 56 and a guide plate 57 having, a slot 58 in which the handle works. This handle is connected with the lug 32 of the catch by a stout wire ,.or cord-59, so that movement of the handle will rock the catch and enable it. to be disengaged from the notched pl'aterl0 against the action of the spring353and thus it will be seen that movement" of the handle or'rlever will; enable the show-the" stay inthe extended position, that.

the rivet 31" engages the end notch 61 of the plate10, while in Figureg, which shows the drop-end partially folded down, that the rivet 31 engages f with one of' the middle notches: In ord'ertto cause the catch to'uassume-approximately the same angularposii ti'on with respect to the horizontal when the on: the 'drop end is taken by the adjustable stay is either extended or contracted so that thed i'stance betw'een the catch and the operating lever 56 does not alter appreciably, the notches 21,may if desired, be arranged in a curved or arcuate, line such that the end notch 60 'is somewhat nearertot'hepivot or rivet-14 than the notch 61 which is at the other end of the series of notches.

tive length of the link 11 is equal to the distance-between the rivets 14Pandi26, any-load support" insuch a mannerthat there is no tendency'forth'eframe of the drop-end to be It will'be-appreciated that since the effecdistorted laterally, no matter whether the drop-end is in its upright position or in its lowered position or in any intermediate position; 1

hat I claim then is 1. A drop-end for furniture comprising two units hinge-d together and having an 7 adjustable supportingstay, comprising a hinge on each of the relatively adjustable units, an arm pivoted on one of said hinges, a plate pivoted on the other of sald hinges,

a link connecting said arm with said plate,

said link being pivoted to said' plate and foldable thereon, the plate having one edge 7 provided with, teeth, and a catch having" a projection for engaging'said teeth,, said catch andsaid'link being oonnectedilto said arm by the same pivot pin. p

2. A drop-end for furniture comprising two units hinged together and having; an adjustable supporting stay, comprisin'g a hinge on each of the relatively adjustable units, an arm pivoted 011' one of said hinges,

a platepivoted ontheother of said hinges,

a link connecting'said armwith said plate, said link being pivoted tosaid plate and foldable thereon, the platehaving'one edge provi'dedwith teeth, and a catch havinga projection for engaging said teeth; said catch and. said link being connectedtoasaid arm by the same pivot pin, the hinges on the unitsv being parallel to vthe hinge by which the" units are; connected and thezpivots upon-which the link. and plate are-mounted being at right anglest'o' said hingeslo,

two units hinged together and'fhaving-a radjustable supporting stay, comprising; a hinge on each of therelatively adjustable-units, an

with teeth, said teeth beingarrangedE in an arc having as its centre the point at which 7 3. A drop-end forifurniture-comprising the link is pivoted to the plate, and aqca'tch having a projection for engagingsaid teeth,

said catch and sai d link being connected to said arm by the same pivot pm.

at. A drop-end for furniture comprising two units hinged together andqhaving anadjustablesupporting stay, comprising a hinge on eachqof the relatively, adjustable units, an arm pivoted on one of said hinges, a plate pivoted on the other of said hinges, a link connectingsai'd arm with said plate, said link being pivoted tosaid plate'and foldable thereon, the plate having one edge provided with teeth, and a catch'having' a projection for engagiiig said' teeth, said catch andsaid link being connected to said arm by' the same pivot; pin, said link and said ca'tclrbeing of doubleformation and 'engaging on either side" of said plate; 1

5. A drop-end for furniture comprising provided with teeth, and a catch having a 10' two units hinged together and having an adprojection for engaging said teeth, the justable supporting stay, comprising ahinge hinges on the units being parallel to the on each of the relatively adjustable units, hinge by Which the units are connected and 5 an arm pivotedon one of said hinges, a the pivots upon which the link and plate plate pivoted on the other of said hinges, a are mounted being at right angles to said 15 link connecting said arm With said plate, hinges. v said link being pivoted to said plate and In witness whereof-I afiix my signature. foldable thereon, the plate having one edge ROBERT RUSSELL. 

